I think the questioner is referring to the amount of background blur not the quality of the background blur (which is what the term bokeh refers to) can we edit the question in order to get an unambiguous answer?
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Matt GrumFeb 22 '12 at 23:41

The answer is almost definitely no, and it has nothing to do with being on a cropped sensor: different lenses have different bokeh characteristics. Bokeh is achieved through the optics and aperture diaphragm blades. Both the 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8 have 7 blades, but their optical formula is different -- the result will be different bokeh.

This is tricky as bokeh is hard to define. A 35mm lens has the same field of view as a 50mm lens on a cropped sensor, but the focal length is still 35mm. As a longer focal length contributes to a shallower depth of field, any bokeh will be 'reduced' on a 35mm lens compared to a 50mm.

How discernible the difference will be is debatable - certainly less than the difference between a 35mm and, say, a 200mm lens. Other factors also contribute to bokeh such as the number of and construction of the glass elements in the lens and the shape and number of aperture blades.

I think I understand now - Focal length is same, just the FOV changes, and DOF depends on focal length not on FOV, therefore the 35mm lens will still have less bokeh as compared to 50 mm (on the cropped sensor)? Is this correct?
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abcdFeb 22 '12 at 11:46

This is not correct and is a common myth. DOF depends on field of view. "Depth of field remains the same, regardless of lens focal length, so long as the image size (and f-stop) is the same. There is no point in changing to a shorter focal length lens and moving closer, because if the image size remains the same so will the depth of field." (David Samuelson, 'A Hands-On Manual for Cinematographers', Focal Press, London, second edition, 1998, p.218)"
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vlad259Feb 22 '12 at 12:24